Rebirth of the French Colony 135

River Brouillan. These Acadians had distinguished themselves in the last war on the side of the French and had been such thorns in the side of the English that at the conclusion of peace they, with four others, had been specifically excluded from an amnesty.” They were of the farmer-merchant type, former owners of vessels, and, as they were well calculated to play the part of leaders in their new home and pa- triotic in extreme, they were received with all favor and given all they asked, both for their vessels and for subsistence.

Gautier in particular had rendered conspicuous services to all the invaders who had beset Annapolis, 1744-1747. As a result of his action his losses mounted up to 70,000 livres according to a statement presented to the Minister.** He was in Quebec in 1747 and again in 1748 and acted as agent for the Quebec officials at Louisburg. In 1748 he was paid a special gratuity of 500 livres and a year later was given an annual gratuity of 400, partly as a recogni- tion of his services, partly to make a favorable im- pression on the Acadians, as a pledge of the favor that the King showed to those who served him well. As the later records will show he continued his public spirited endeavors till his death in 1752, and was instrumental in inducing large numbers of Acadians to follow him to the land of his adoption.

On August 9, Bigot, who had gone from Quebec to Louisburg to supervise the reorganization there, be-

12Can. Arch. Report, 1905, Vol. Il, App. C, p. 48. 18 C11 A, Vol. 89, p. 49.